Courageous Women of Resistance – October 2017
Many thanks to all who participated in our Courageous Women of Resistance series. Fayrouz Sharqawi of Grassroots Jerusalem engaged audiences throughout Connecticut and Massachussets with an amazing story of challenge and hope. Her work with Palestinian community outreach has made incredible impact and empowered countless youth and adults. As our Portland, Oregon host said about Fayrouz
“Fayrouz is wonderful: articulate, passionate, and with a sense of humor. She was able to convey, better than any other speaker I’ve yet heard, not just the Kafkaesque qualities of Palestinian life in Jerusalem, but the desire for self-determination, not pity.”
Fayrouz was joined by Lakota activist Madonna Thunder Hawk. Madonna shared a bit about her past work as member of the American Indian Movement, founder of WARN (Women of All Red Nations), the Black Hills Alliance, and her recent work at Standing Rock. Madonna shared her perspective that Standing Rock is a continuation, not a singular event, and radiated with hope as she recounted what she called the decolonization of the Standing Rock camp community.
A Yale student wrote this article in the Yale Daily News about the New Haven Courageous Women event.
Tree of Life is grateful for the support of Peace Development Fund in making possible our Courageous Women of Resistance program. We are grateful for this grant and encourage you to learn more about PDF here https://www.
Our Cape Cod event also included Jihan Nasser of Tent of Nations http://www.tentofnations.org. Jihan gave a very comprehensive overview of the challenges living under military occupation has brought to her family farm, in operation for over 100 years. Jihan spoke of the wonderful work she is doing as Program Director for the Bent Al-reef Empowerment Project with women in the village of Nahalin, again highlighting the hope and determination of the Palestinian people.
Our Trinity College event in Hartford, Conn. included Daunasia Yancey, founder of Black Lives Matter Boston. Daunasia spoke of her incredible organizing work, what it means to be in solidarity and action, and what we can do to make change.
These amazing women weaved their stories together for audiences, identifying similarities and sharing their thoughts on how to make change, how to stay in action, and how to fight for a better world.
